Gun toggle mechanism with biasing means positioned in predetermined area on toggle to absorb shell explosive reactive forces

ABSTRACT

A toggle action pistol in which a toggle is tripped to recede into its handle by the effects of gas pressure generated at the time of firing and employing a toggle biasing means in a given area on the toggle mechanism for absorbing shell explosive reactive forces.

Unite States Patent Perrine Jan. 8, 1974 GUN TOGGLE MECHANISM WITH1,322,053 11/1919 Reising 89/199 BIASING MEANS POSITIONED IN 3:3

- e s PREDETERMINED AREA 0N TOGGLE To 472,377 4/1892 Mallen 89/175ABSORB SHELL EXPLOSIVE REACTIVE FORCES Trabue 89/199 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 333,662 3/1921 Germany 89/189 328,013 10/1920 Germany89/189 Primary ExaminerStephen C. Bentley Attorney-Warren F. B. Lindsley[57] ABSTRACT A toggle action pistol in which a toggle is tripped torecede into its handle by the effects of gas pressure for absorbingshell explosive reactive forces.

12 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAR 8 1974 [AWE/V702 Warm E.PEER/M6 ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAH 81974 34783739 11V V5 702 ML 7512 5. Paw/v5ATYUZIVEY GUN TOGGLE MECHANISM WITH BIASING MEANS POSITIONED INPREDETERMINED AREA ON TOGGLE TO ABSORB SHELL EXPLOSIVE REACTIVE FORCESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to toggle actionweapons, and is particularly directed to means for causing a blow backtoggle to recede into the handle of the pistol by gas pressure generatedat the time of firing and employing a toggle biasing means in a givenarea on the toggle mechanism to absorb blow back forces.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention is particularly directed to toggleaction weapons such as pistols wherein a bolt extending toggle istripped from a locked position by gas pressure from the gun barrel whenthe gun is fired. The toggle is caused to recede into the handle of thepistol to offset the effects of firing recoil and is biased toward itslocked position by a spring means bearing in a given area on the toggle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Heretofore, the majority of all toggleactuated weapons of this class have been recoil operated, thus lendingtheir complexity to a degree of inefficiency that was not acceptable tothe public or to the military market. Further, all prior small andhand-held weapons, pistols, revolvers and submachine guns have beenlimited to the use of small, low energy pistol ammunition, and werelimited as to size, weight, chamber pressure and velocity of theprojectile.

Under-center and over-center toggles in toggle action weapons can bemade to work efficiently and lock permanently when properly designed.These weapons, including pistols, can be designed to use high chamberpressure ammunition, i.e., heavy charged ammunition, and to use iteffectively in short barreled guns if the toggles are biased properly ina given manner.

Heretofore it was thought necessary to use an overcenter toggle ifheavily charged ammunition was to be used efficiently. In fact, it hasbeen found that heavily charged bullets can be used effectively in ashort barreled gun having slightly under-center toggle locking mechanismbecause the toggle has a shorter distance to move before it collapsesthan does a similar over-center toggle action weapon, and accordinglyits rate of repetetive operation or cycle of operation is of a shortertime thanheretofore possible with the overcenter toggle action weapons.

When comparing the under-center toggle action weapon to the known blowback and hesitation lock types of toggle action weapons the disclosedmechanism is a little slower than the blow back type of triggeringtoggle action weapon described in U. S. Pat. No. 3,630,119, entitled GasOperated Toggle Action Weapon and the hesitation type weapon describedin U. S. Pat. No. 3,709,091 entitled Adjustable Hesitation Blow BackOperated Gun Toggle Mechanism, both granted to Walter E. Perrine.

In accordance with the invention claimed herein, a new and improvedtoggle mechanism is disclosed which can be used effectively in any givenmechanism to absorb the effects of the shell explosive forces, whetherusing an undercenter toggle, over-center toggle, or any variationthereof. The new and improved weapons employing such a toggle mechanismis disclosed which can be used effectively in any given mechanism toabsorb the effects of the shell explosive forces. whether using anunder-center toggle, over-center toggle, or any variation thereof. Thenew and improved weapons employing such a toggle mechanism utilize gunbarrel pressure to drive the biased toggle from its locked position toits tripped position. At the time this happens the bullet has left thebarrel of the gun and the residual pressure in the gun breaks orcollapses the toggle and causes the toggle to move to its fullyretracted position in the handle of the weapon. Recoil springs in thegun reacting on the toggle in a particular area or spot on the togglearms return the toggle to a predetermined locked position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention claimed, animproved toggle action weapon is provided which is locked in a givenposition and triggered by gas pressure generated in its gun barrel.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an improvedtoggle action weapon, whether of the undercenter or over-center type, inwhich gas pressure generated in a gun barrel is needed to trip thetoggle, causing it to recede to a retracted position in the handle ofthe weapon.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved toggle actionweapon biased to a given position by spring means engaging the toggle ina particular area on the toggle mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide a weapon with a toggledesign such that it can utilize high chamber pressure ammunition.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a weapon having acollapsible toggle mechanism tripped by pressure generated in the gunbarrel which controls the breech pressure at the time of opening so asto eliminate or greatly reduce residual pressure at the time the breechopens.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an adjustablypositioned toggle mechanism for a weapon that employs a biasing meansreacting against the toggle in a predetermined position so that it isdynamically balanced to accomplish a smooth, consistent, and continuouspressure throughout the movement of the bolt after tripping, in whichthe line of force from the moving parts is directed to the palm of thehand, thereby virtually eliminating all noticeable recoil.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a gasoperated toggle action weapon incorporating the features of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing the toggle of the gunshown in FIG. I in a toggle breaking position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of the weapon shown in FIG.1 in toggle collapsed position;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a modification of the weapon shown in FIGS. 1-4wherein a piston actuated toggle actuating wedge collapses the toggle asa result of the explosive forces of the shell;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the weapon shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a further modification of the weapon shown in FIGS. 1-4wherein an under-center hesitation locking mechanism is employed tocontrol the bolt which mechanism is controlled by the explosive effectsof the shells; and

FIG. 8 is a further modification of the weapon shown in FIGS. 1-4employing an over-center toggle gas actuated mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an exampleof one embodiment of this invention similar to the gun illustrated inU.S. Pat. No. 3,630,119. More particularly FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate apistol having a frame 10, handle 11, trigger 12 with trigger guard 13,and a bullet magazine 14. A demountable adjustably positioned barrel 15has a rear end diameter portion 16 which is received in the semicircularbore 18 in the front end of frame 10. An elongated clamp 20 is pivotallymounted on a suitable hinge screw 21 secured in the frame so that theclamp 20 can swing outwardly. Reference is made to the US. Pat. No.3,630,119 for more detail of this structure. The outer end of clamp 20is provided with a mating semi-circular bore and groove to match bore 18to grip the diameter portion 16 to secure the gun barrel in firingposition on frame 10.

The bullet magazine 14 is demountably secured by the usual releasablelatch in a guide sleeve 27 of frame 10 to feed the bullets 28 intoinsertion and firing position by the usual bolt 29, which moves on theguide keys 30 in appropriate guide slots 31 and 32 in the frame 10 andclamp 20. The rear end of the bolt 29 is pivotally connected by a pivotpin 34 carried in the front end of the front link 35, the rear end ofwhich is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 36 to the front end of therear link 37, in turn pivotally connected by a pivot pin 38 carried inthe rear portion of the frame 10 to thus provide a toggle 35-37 forcontrolling the movement of the bolt 29.

Normally, when the bullet 28 has been loaded in the barrel in firingposition, the toggle 35-37 is aligned, as shown in full line in FIG. 1,at which time the axis 40 of pin 36 is slightly below a line between theaxes 41 and 42 of pins 34 and 38 so that the toggle 35-37 is in anunder-center locked position as shown in full line in FIG. 1. Acompression spring 44 is carried on a push rod 45 slidingly supported ina clearance hole 46 in a baffle 47 in the handle 11 and pivotallyconnected by a pin 48 to the link 37, the compression spring 44operating between the baffle 47 and a flange 49 of the push rod 45 tonormally yieldingly hold the toggle 35-37 against flat surface 39 inunder-center locked firing position of the gun.

The toggle 35-37 is tripped from under-center locked position by gaspressure from the gun barrel when the gun is fired.

A gas tube 50 is provided which communicates between a port 51 in thegun barrel l5 and a chamber 52 arranged at the back or handle end of theweapon immediately above the under-center toggle 35-37. Chamher 52contains an opening or orifice 53 directly above.

the under-center toggle so that gas under pressure from the gun barrelcan be communicated directly to the under-center toggle.

If desired, a pocket (not shown) may be formed in one of the links ofthe over-center toggle such as link 37 to form a means for holding orcontrolling the gas under pressure used to trip the toggle mechanism,although this pocket is not needed since gas under pressure in tube 50will trip the under-center toggle without the pocket indentation.

As shown in the drawing, a compression spring 61 is arranged between ashoulder 62, formed around a bore 63 defined in a protruding lug 64 ofbolt 29 and a ridge 62a formed in a bore 65 defined by frame 10 andclamp 20. Lug 64 is shown as being integral with bolt 29.

When bullet 28 is fired gas under pressure in barrel 15 is driventhrough port 51, tube 50, chamber 52 and its orifice 53 to link 37 ofthe over-center toggle tripping the toggle, causing it to start toretract to its position shown in the handle of the pistol in FIG. 3.

At the time bullet 28 is fired and leaves the barrel l5 and is on itsway to its target, residual pressure existing in a chamber 58 will drivebolt 29 backwards with sufficient force to complete the travel of thetoggle mechanism 35-37 sufi'lcient to move the center pin 36 and forceit to complete its downward travel to its lowest point down inside thehandle 11 of the gun against the bias of compression spring 44, as shownin FIG. 4.

The inertia of the bolt 29 continues rearwardly, compressing the recoilcompression spring 61 until the end of the lug 64 engages a stop surface67 of the frame 10. The bolt 29 and toggle 35-37are returned to theiroriginal positions by the stored-up energy in the two springs 44 and 61.This completes the firing cycle and prepares the gun for the secondfiring, having picked up an additional bullet 28 from the clip magazineand placed it in the chamber when the bolt returned to its originalposition by well known conventional mechanism.

In order to trip the toggle 35-37 to load the first bul-' let into thegun, a manual lever 70, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, may be provided onthe gun shown in FIG. 1 which, when rotated by the operator clockwiseagainst the action of a spring, contacts the under-center toggle 35-37,causing it to trip far enough to allow the operator to move the bolt 29back sufficiently to allow a bullet 28 from the clip magazine 14 toenter the chamber of the gun for the first firing action. Upon collapseof the toggle, bolt 29 is moved rearwardly by the operator pulling onrod 72, shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the toggle 35-37, when in the under-center lockedposition and in its collapsed position, causes very little lateralmovement of push rod 45 so that most of the action of compressionsspring 44 acts longitudinally of the length of push rod 45 to takesubstantially full advantage of its expansion and contraction forces formoving the toggle to its locked and unlocked positions. This type ofaction aids in absorbing the reaction forces or kick of the weapon uponexplosion of the bullets used in the weapon.

FIG. 1 illustrated toggle 35-37 in its extended undercenter lockedposition being forced there by compreschamber 52 to the top of toggle35-37. This results in the collapse of the toggle to the position shownin FIG. 3. Spring 61 is compressed absorbing the initial kick back forcein a direction longitudinally of bolt 29. The toggle now being tripped,link 37 of toggle 35-37 is moved to a position substantially at rightangles to link 35 and push rod 45 as shown in FIG. 3, with link 35 andpush rod 45 being substantially coaxially aligned. At this point in therecoil action, the result of the forces compressing springs 61 and 45 isdirected substantially in a direction along the longitudinal axis ofspring 44 and rod 45. Thus, at the moment of the greatest kick backforce all of the pressure is directed along the longitudinal axis ofspring 44.

Further compression of springs 61 and 44 results in the toggle 35-37collapsing, causing link 37 to form an acute angle with link 35, asshown in FIG. 4. The complete collapse of the toggle occurs after thelargest portion of the reactive forces has been absorbed by link 37 whenat substantial right angles to link 35 and rod 45.

It should be noted that when spring 61 is most effective in itscompression cycle it is substantially aligned with link 35 and whenspring 44 is most effective in its compression cycle it is coaxiallyaligned with link 35 and link 37 is perpendicular to link 35. Thisarrangement greatly reduced the effect of kick back on the holder of theweapon.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 a weapon 10' employing a piston actuated togglecollapsing wedge is shown and is disclosed in more detail in U. S. Pat.No. 3,630,119 referred to above, and is similar to weapon 10 shown inFIGS. 1-4. Like parts of a substantially similar configuration to weapon10 are provided with the same reference characters as in FIGS. 5 and 6but identified with a prime symbol.

Normally, when bullet 28 has been loaded in the barrel in firingposition the toggle 3537' is aligned as shown in full lines in FIG. 6,with the top surface 37a up against the locating abutment surface 39' ofthe frame 10 at which time the axis 40 is slightly above a line 36abetween the axes 41 and 42' of pins 34' and 38 so that the toggle 3537is in an over-center locked position as shown in full line in FIG. 6.Compression spring 44' as in FIGS. 1-4 is carried on a push rod 45slidingly supported in a clearance hole 46 in abaffle 47 in the handle11 and pivotally connected by a pin 48 to the link 37', thecompressionspring 44' operating between the baffle 47' and a flange 4 9of the push rod 45' to normally yieldingly hold the toggle 35'-37 inover-center locked firing position of the gun.

The toggle 35-37' is tripped from over-center locked position by gaspressure from the gunbarrel when the gun is fired. One example of suchmechanism may comprise an actuating cam 73 connected to a piston rod 74slidably mounted in an elongated cylinder bore 75 formed in the clampwhich bore 75 in turn is in communication through a port 76 in the clamp20' and an aligned port 77 in the gun barrel 15 A tension spring 78connected between an anchor pin 79in the frame 10' and the actuating cam73 in retracted position as shown in full line in FIG. 6. When the cam73 moves rearwardly from gas pressure from the gun barrel in cylinderbore 75, the sloping cam surface 80 engages the pin 36' to push the pindownwardly below the line 36a to break dead center for the toggle35'37'.

At the time this happens, the bullet 28 has left the barrel 15 and is onits way to its target. The force still remaining in the inertia of thepiston rod 74 and the cam 73 plus the residual pressure still existingin the chamber 81 continues to drive the piston rod 74 and bolt 29' withsufficient force to complete the travel of the piston rod, activatingthe cam to its rearmo'st travel position 82 against stop pin 83sufficient to move the center pin 36' and force it to complete itsdownward travel along the arcuate path 84 to its lowermost point 85 downinside the handle 11 of the gun, compressing spring 44'.

The inertia of the bolt 29' continues rearwardly, compressing the recoilcompression spring 61' acting between the bolt 29' and the frame 10 ofthe gun until the bolt engages the frame. At that time, spring 78returns the piston rod 74 and cam 73 forwardly to retracted positionshown in full line in FIG. 6. The bolt 29' and toggle 35'37' arereturned to their original po sitions by the stored-up energy in the twosprings 44' and 61'. This completes the firing cycle and prepares thegun for the second firing, having picked up an additional bullet 28 fromthe clip magazine and placed it in the chamber when the bolt returned toits original position by well known conventional mechanism.

FIG. 7 illustrates a hesitation blow back operated toggle mechanism fora weapon 10" which is simiar to weapons 10 and 10 shown in FIGS. 1-6 andwherein like parts of a substantially similar configuration are providedwith the same reference characters identified with a double primesymbol. For a more detailed illustration and explanation of the weaponreference is made to U. S. Pat. No. 3,709,091.

As described in U. S. Pat. No. 3,709,091, the bullet magazine 14 isdemountably secured by the usual releasable latch in the guide sleeve27" of the frame 10" to feed the bullets 28 into insertion and firingposition by the usual bolt 29 which moves on guide keys in appropriateguide slots in frame 10'. The rear end of bolt 29" is pivotallyconnected by a pivot pin 34" carried in the front end of the front link35", the rear end of which is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 36" tothe front end of the rear link 37", in turn pivotally connected by apivot pin 38" carried in the rear portion of the frame 10 to thusprovide a toggle 35"37" for controlling the movement of the bolt 29".

Normally, when the bullet 28 has been loaded in the barrel in firingposition, the toggle 3537 is aligned, as shown in full line in FIG. 7,with the top surface 37a" up against an adjustable locating abutmentmeans 39" threadedly mounted in frame 10'', at which time the axis 40"of pin 37 is slightly below a line between the axes 411" and 42" of pins34" and 38" so that the toggle 35-37" is in an under-center lockedposition as shown in full line in FIG. 7. A compression spring 44" iscarried on a push rod 45" slidingly supported in a clearance hole 46" ina bafile 47" in the handle 11" and pivotally connected by a pin 48" tothe link 37", the compression spring 44" operating between the baffle 47and a flange 49" of the push rod 45" to normally yieldingly hold thetoggle 35"37" against adjustment means 39" in under-center locked firingposition of the gun.

The toggle 35"37" is tripped from under-center locked position by gaspressure from the gun barrel when the gun is fired.

In accordance with the invention claimed the adjustment locating means39" comprises an adjustment screw which makes it possible to hold thetoggle 35"-37" in one of a number of under-center toggle positions andto hold that position until gas pressure from the firing of the guncauses the toggle to recede into the handle.

As shown in the drawings a compression spring 61" is arranged between ashoulder 62", formed around a bore 63 defined in a protruding lug 64 ofbolt 29" and a ridge 62a" formed in a bore 65 defined by frame 10''. Lug64" is shown as being integral with bolt 29".

At the time bullet 28 is fired and leaves the barrel and is on its wayto its target residual pressure existing in a chamber 58" will drivebolt 29" backward with sufficient force to complete the travel of thetoggle mechanism "-37 sufficiently to move the center pin 36" and forceit to complete its downward travel to its lowest point 60" down insidethe handle 11" of the gun against the bias of compressing spring 44".

The inertia of the bolt 29 continues rearwardly compressing the recoilcompression spring 61" until the end of the lug 64" engages a stopsurface 67" of the frame 10''. The bolt 29" and toggle 35"-37" arereturned to their original positions by the stored-up energy in the twosprings 44" and 61". This completes the firing cycle and prepares thegun for the second firing, having picked up an additional bullet 28 fromthe clip magazine and placed it in the chamber when the bolt returned toits original position by well known conventional mechanism.

FIG. 8 illustrates an over-center toggle actuated weapon 10" whereinlike parts of a substantially similar configuration with those shown inFIGS. 14 are provided with. the same reference characters identifiedwith a triple prime symbol. In this weapon the toggle 35"'-37"' isactuated as in FIGS. l-4 by gas under pressure from the exploding shellconducted through port 51", gas tube 50", chamber 52" and throughorifice 53" to link 37" of the toggle mechanism in the same manner as inFIGS. 1-4.

It should be noted that applicant has disclosed in FIGS. 1 through 8 agas actuated toggle mechanism for weapons, some of which are locked inan over-center position and others in an under-center position.

In the over-center locked position as shown in FIG. 8, the togglemechanism is particularly suitable for rifles and high-powered bullets,30 caliber machine guns and so forth, and also 3.08 automatic rifles. Inthe under-center toggle locked position of the weapons disclosed, thetoggle mechanism may be more quickly collapsed than in the over-centerlocked position; therefore one advantage of the under-center locked typeof weapon is that this type of toggle mechanism can be used effectivelywith weapons having shorter barrel lengths and still achieve theefficiency as with a long barrel and an over-center locked togglemechanism.

Where the over-center and under-center toggle mechalapse and absorb theexplosive forces of the shell during firing and the reloading cycle ofthe weapon.

Therefore, a need exists for both the under-center and over-centertoggle mechanism called a hesitation lock, well known in the art.

When properly designed the under-center toggle mechanism operates aseffectively and locks as permanently as an over-center toggle mechanism.

One important common characteristic about properly designed over-center,under-center and hesitation lock toggle mechanisms for weapon use andparticularly those employed in pistol type guns, is the proper placingof the springs used to absorb the exploding shell recoil action of theweapon.

I-Ieretofore, springs placed in the weapon to bias the toggle into itsextended position had difficulty in placing the toggle and the bullet inthe magazine in an identical position each time the weapon was fired. Ifa spring was positioned in the gun so as to be longitudinally arrangedwith the bolt of the weapon, the spring was then capable of driving thebullet forward into the chamber of the gun hard enough to seat itproperly, but it was not in a favorable position for absorbing recoil ofthe weapon or to aid in positioning the toggle in its properly extendedposition each and every cycle of gun actuation. Thus, if only a singlespring was used longitudinally of the toggle mechanism, the toggle,whether it was an under-center or over-center mechanism, usually saggeda bit, and if there was any friction in the operation of the movingparts, the sag prevented the bullet from being seated identically in thesame position each time. Springs mounted to operate on the knee of thetoggle arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the togglefailed also to seat the bullet each and every time and particularly werenot in the most favorable position for absorbing recoil of the explodingshell.

Therefore, it is necessary to construct a toggle mechanism featuringsprings that are dynamically balanced to operate in conjunction andcombination with each other. The dynamic balance obtained by the use ofa pair of springs properly positioned to absorb the recoil of theexploding shell as well as control the operation of the collapsing andextending of the toggle mechanism is an important feature of the new andimproved weapons disclosed in this application. The pair of springsdisclosed in each of the weapons shown in the figures of the drawingachieve a dynamic balance. The bottom spring 44 in each weaponillustrated pushes up against the toggle joint, premanently securing thebolt in identically the same position each and every firing cycle sothat the bolt is always identically placed with the same identicalpressure on it each time the weapons are discharged. This provides aconsistency in the explosive and reactive reaction operation of the boltin its forward and rearward movements each and every time it isactuated. As springs 44-44' are compressed during an explosive action ofa shell, they recede into the handle of the weapon, becoming less andless effective, due to the angles and the change of angles of the togglearms. Initially it absorbs a tremendous amount of recoil because of itsposition and later becomes almost totally ineffective when the togglehas reached a certain position. At this point, where the springs 44-44'become ineffective, the toggle still continues to go rearward and thetop springs 61-61' compress and store up energy for the initial returnof the bolt to the toggle extended position. In fact, springs 61-61generally have more force than is necessary to drive the cartridgecarriage of the exploded shell out of the gun and to push forward a newshell into the chamber. When springs 61-61' become less effective afterbeing extended in their effort to drive'the bolt back to the toggleextended position, the lower springs 44-44 accelerate and add to theeffort of the top spring sufficient energy to drive forward the bolt 29and to lock it permanently in position through the proper positioning ofthe toggle arms of the toggle mechanism. This is accomplishedidentically the same each and every cycle of the firing of the weapon.

Heretofore, either one or two springs have been used to aid inpositioning the toggle, but in each and every instance the springs wereso designed that they .did not exert this dynamic balance that applicanthas achieved through his weapon design, and accordingly did not closethe weapon in the same identical position each and every time.

Thus, in order to provide a toggle actuated mechanism which is of theideal configuration for use in under-center, over-center or hesitationlock weapons, the toggle arms of the toggle linkage must be of specificlengths so that when the springs 44-44' and 61-61' act on them theproper collapsing effect occurs in such a manner as to totally absorbthe recoil of the exploding shell. As shown in the Figures of thedrawing, the toggle mechanism comprises two movable links 35 and 37, 35'and 37, 35" and 37", and 35 and -37"', which are of given lengths sothat when the toggle mechanisms have reached their midpoint in theircollapsing action, the toggle arms 37, 37', 37" and 37" are atsubstantial right anglesto the other arm of each toggle mechanism, i.e.35, 35', 35" and 35" At this instance it is also desirable that thesprings 44-44' are positioned such that they are at right angles to thetoggle arm 37,37, 37" and 37".

In order to so design the toggle mechanisms shown in FIGS. 1-8 so thatthis collapsing feature exists in each of the guns shown, the longerlinkage arm, i.e., 37, 37 37" and 37", must be of sufficient length sothat the bolt may move backward into the rear of the gun a distanceequal to the feed ramp .of the mechanism plus the length of the bulletplus sufficient distance to feed a new bullet into the chamber. In agiven weapon, one linkage of the toggle mechanism is equal to a feedramp (0.400 inches) plus the bullet (1.169 inches) and the distancenecessary to feed a new bullet into the chamber (0.125 inches). Thetotal linkage, then, is 1.694 inches. The second toggle arm of thelinkage comprises a link which is the length of the linkage arm abovedefined times 0.707 inches. Thus, if a toggle mechanism is made of theabove defined linkage lengths and so arranged in a toggle actuatedweapon so that springs 44-44' are atsubstantial right angles to thetoggle mechanisms when they have reached substantially midway in theircollapsing operation, the toggles will be effective for absorbingsubstantially total recoil or kick.

back of the weapon, regardless of whether they are used in anover-center, under-center or hesitation lock mechanism. Additionally, ineither of these gun weapon designs, springs 61-61 should be arrangedsuch that they effectively operate on the bolt in a directionlongitudinally to the longitudinal axis of the bolt travel.

Reference is made to FIG. 3 of the drawing wherein the toggle is shownin its mid position during a collapsing operation, showing arm 37 of thetoggle linkage mechanism to be at substantial right angles to arm 35 ofthe mechanism, with spring 44 operating on the knee of the toggle in adirection substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of link37. The disclosed mechanism results in the recoil force being directedinto the palm of the hand of the holder of the weapon, which force isthen absorbed by spring 44. Part of the recoil force is absorbed by thetop spring 61.

Recoil is generated at the instant the bullet moves from its casethrough the barrel and out the gun. As bolts 29, 29, 29" and 29" movebackward in the weapon, springs 61, 61, 61" and 61" absorb part of theforce, the remainder of the force being directed into the handle of theweapon and absorbed by springs 44, 44', 44 and 44'.

Heretofore in weapons of the type disclosed, the toggle mechanism actedas a locking device, and when collapsed the recoil had to be absorbed bythe bolt as it struck an abutting surface at the rear of the weapon. Thebolt would come to a dead stop at the rear of the weapon, therebytransmitting the recoil of the exploding shell to the holder of theweapon. In the FIGS. 1-8 the weapons shown absorb part of the recoil inthe handle of the gun, and this is absorbed by springs 44, 44, 44" and44". These springs are so situated that they work effectively during therecoil action by being compressed into the handle of the gun after thesprings 61, 61', 61" and 61" have provided their full shock absorbingaction.

Although the toggles of the weapons shown in FIGS. 1-8 are triggeredinitially to collapse in different manners, as described, the force ofthe bolt moving back under the action of the exploding shell causescollapse of the toggle.

In any of these mechanisms, the toggle after it collapses transmitsforce to the holder of the weapon. In the weapons set forth in FIGS.1-8, this force is absorbed by a combination of the springs 44-44' and61-61, as heretofore described. The new and improved toggle actuatedweapon disclosed employs a novel toggle mechanism of a certaingeometrical configuration so biased by a combination of springs thatsubstantially full recoil is absorbed by the weapon without distortingthe gun causing a deflection of the weapon under the action of theexplosive shell.

It should be noted that the toggle size can be identified by thecharacteristic of the gun. For example, it has been noted that if thelength of the feed ramp of the gun is added to the length of the bulletplus a distance sufiicient to feed a new bullet into the gun, thisdistance will result in the length of'link 37 of the toggle. Link 35will then be 0.707 times that distance.

Although buta few embodiments of the invention have been shown andclaimed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from thespirit of invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A gas operated toggle action weapon comprising:

a frame,

a handle on the frame,

a barrel having a firing chamber,

a bolt movable in the frame axially to and from the firing chamber ofthe gun barrel,

a toggle interconnected between the bolt and the frame,

said toggle comprising a pair of pivotally connected links, the free endof one of said links being pivotally connected to said bolt and the freeend of the other of said links being pivotally connected to said frame,said toggle being movable to a locked position when said bolt has beenmoved to said firing chamber,

a first compression means for controlling the movement of said toggle asit collapses by causing the intermediate pivot axis to swing downwardlyaway from said bolt, saod compression means comprising a push rodpivotally mounted on said toggle at a point between its ends andslidably mounted for movement transversely of said bolt, and a firstspring means mounted on said push rod between a fixed flange in saidhandle and a fixed flange on said push rod for compression of saidspring means during movement of said push rod upon collapsing of saidtoggle, said first spring means biasing said toggle to its lockedposition after a collapsing action of said toggle,

a second compression means mounted on said frame for controlling themovement of said toggle as it collapses, said second compression meanscomprising a second spring means mounted between said frame and saidbolt for compression upon movement of said bolt during collapsing ofsaid toggle, said second spring means biasing said bolt toward saidfiring chamber after a collapsing action of said toggle,

said second spring means extending longitudinally of said bolt andcompressing immediately upon collapsing of said toggle to absorb aportion of the reactive force of an exploding shell in the weapon, saidfirst spring means compressing to absorb another portion of saidreactive force upon the further collapsing action of said toggle,

said links being of predetermined length so that they are perpendicularto each other, and said first spring means being longitudinallypositioned with said one of said links when said toggle is partiallycollapsed to thereby distort said reactive force transversely to thelongitudinal axis of said bolt.

2. The gas operated toggle action weapon set forth in claim I whereinsaid one of said links is 0.707 times the length of said other of saidlinks.

3. The gas operated toggle action weapon set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid first spring means is substantially perpendicular with said otherof said links when said links are perpendicular to each other, saidlinks when perpendicular to each other causing said reactive forces tobe distorted transversely to said bolt into the handle of said weapon.

4. A gas operated toggle action weapon set forth in claim 1 wherein theintermediate pivot axis of said toggle swings downwardly within thehandle of the weapon.

5. A gas operated toggle action weapon set forth in claim 1 wherein agas operated actuating device movable on the frame is arranged toactuate and release the toggle from its locked position by gas pressuredeveloped in the barrel by firing of the weapon.

6. A gas operated toggle action weapon set forth in claim 1 wherein agas operated mechanism for tripping the toggle from its locked positioncomprises a cylinder bore in the frame in communication with the gunbarrel bore, a piston rod reciprocatable in the cylinder bore having cammeans to engage an intermediate point of the toggle.

7. A gas operated toggle action weapon as set forth in claim 1 infurther combination with conduit means interconnecting the interior ofsaid hollow barrel with a zone immediately adjacent said toggle fortransmitting gas under pressure in said barrel during firing to saidzone for releasing said toggle from its locked position.

8. A toggle action gun as set forth in claim 1 wherein said push rod ispivotally mounted on said toggle and arranged to move substantiallyparallel with the longitudinal axis of the handle during movement ofsaid toggle.

9. A toggle action weapon as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first andsecond compression spring means bias said toggle to an under-centerlocked position after a toggle collapsing operation slightly below aline between the pivotal connection of the toggle on the bolt and on theframe when said weapon is in operative position.

10. The toggle action weapon set forth in claim 1 wherein said first andsecond compression spring means bias said toggle to an over-centerlocked position after a toggle collapsing operation slightly above aline between the pivotal connection of the toggle on the bolt and on theframe when said weapon is in operative position.

11. The toggle action weapon set forth in claim 1 wherein said toggle ischaracterized by an under-center hesitation locked position slightlybelow a line between the outer pivot axes of the toggle on the bolt andon the frame when the weapon is in operative position.

12. The toggle action weapon set forth in claim 1 wherein said secondspring means drives said bolt back to said firing chamber during a shellloading operation and said first spring means places said toggle inlocked position.

1. A gas operated toggle action weapon comprising: a frame, a handle onthe frame, a barrel having a firing chamber, a bolt movable in the frameaxially to and from the firing chamber of the gun barrel, a toggleinterconnected between the bolt and the frame, said toggle coMprising apair of pivotally connected links, the free end of one of said linksbeing pivotally connected to said bolt and the free end of the other ofsaid links being pivotally connected to said frame, said toggle beingmovable to a locked position when said bolt has been moved to saidfiring chamber, a first compression means for controlling the movementof said toggle as it collapses by causing the intermediate pivot axis toswing downwardly away from said bolt, saod compression means comprisinga push rod pivotally mounted on said toggle at a point between its endsand slidably mounted for movement transversely of said bolt, and a firstspring means mounted on said push rod between a fixed flange in saidhandle and a fixed flange on said push rod for compression of saidspring means during movement of said push rod upon collapsing of saidtoggle, said first spring means biasing said toggle to its lockedposition after a collapsing action of said toggle, a second compressionmeans mounted on said frame for controlling the movement of said toggleas it collapses, said second compression means comprising a secondspring means mounted between said frame and said bolt for compressionupon movement of said bolt during collapsing of said toggle, said secondspring means biasing said bolt toward said firing chamber after acollapsing action of said toggle, said second spring means extendinglongitudinally of said bolt and compressing immediately upon collapsingof said toggle to absorb a portion of the reactive force of an explodingshell in the weapon, said first spring means compressing to absorbanother portion of said reactive force upon the further collapsingaction of said toggle, said links being of predetermined length so thatthey are perpendicular to each other, and said first spring means beinglongitudinally positioned with said one of said links when said toggleis partially collapsed to thereby distort said reactive forcetransversely to the longitudinal axis of said bolt.
 2. The gas operatedtoggle action weapon set forth in claim 1 wherein said one of said linksis 0.707 times the length of said other of said links.
 3. The gasoperated toggle action weapon set forth in claim 1 wherein said firstspring means is substantially perpendicular with said other of saidlinks when said links are perpendicular to each other, said links whenperpendicular to each other causing said reactive forces to be distortedtransversely to said bolt into the handle of said weapon.
 4. A gasoperated toggle action weapon set forth in claim 1 wherein theintermediate pivot axis of said toggle swings downwardly within thehandle of the weapon.
 5. A gas operated toggle action weapon set forthin claim 1 wherein a gas operated actuating device movable on the frameis arranged to actuate and release the toggle from its locked positionby gas pressure developed in the barrel by firing of the weapon.
 6. Agas operated toggle action weapon set forth in claim 1 wherein a gasoperated mechanism for tripping the toggle from its locked positioncomprises a cylinder bore in the frame in communication with the gunbarrel bore, a piston rod reciprocatable in the cylinder bore having cammeans to engage an intermediate point of the toggle.
 7. A gas operatedtoggle action weapon as set forth in claim 1 in further combination withconduit means interconnecting the interior of said hollow barrel with azone immediately adjacent said toggle for transmitting gas underpressure in said barrel during firing to said zone for releasing saidtoggle from its locked position.
 8. A toggle action gun as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said push rod is pivotally mounted on said toggle andarranged to move substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis ofthe handle during movement of said toggle.
 9. A toggle action weapon asset forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second compression springmeans bias said toggle to an under-center locked position after a Togglecollapsing operation slightly below a line between the pivotalconnection of the toggle on the bolt and on the frame when said weaponis in operative position.
 10. The toggle action weapon set forth inclaim 1 wherein said first and second compression spring means bias saidtoggle to an over-center locked position after a toggle collapsingoperation slightly above a line between the pivotal connection of thetoggle on the bolt and on the frame when said weapon is in operativeposition.
 11. The toggle action weapon set forth in claim 1 wherein saidtoggle is characterized by an under-center hesitation locked positionslightly below a line between the outer pivot axes of the toggle on thebolt and on the frame when the weapon is in operative position.
 12. Thetoggle action weapon set forth in claim 1 wherein said second springmeans drives said bolt back to said firing chamber during a shellloading operation and said first spring means places said toggle inlocked position.